Volume 43, Nº 1 (2016)

The ability of the sponge Halichondria panicea to assimilate into the fouling communities of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the solitary ascidian Styela rustica has been studied in a field experiment, in which sponge fragments have been introduced artificially into epibenthic communities. The growth of H. panicea was suppressed greatly in the presence of young mussels; its survival rate averaged 40%. In the communities where S. rustica dominated, the survival rate of H. panicea reached 100%, but the growth rate was lower than in the control group (without competitor species). Despite the high natural growth rate and toxicity, the settlement success of H. panicea was low on the substrate occupied by another fouling species.

This work summarizes the authors’ recent investigations into metabolic changes in blood lymphocytes, cancer cells, and hepatocytes during tumor growth from mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. These results were compared with the metabolic changes in hepatocytes from rats after hyperthermia and in lymphocytes from patients with different diseases. It was shown that the extreme conditions induced metabolic changes that were independent of the cell type or the nature of the extreme factor. These changes characterized the metabolic mechanisms of cell adaptation and disadaptation. The concept of the “nonspecific metabolic reaction” of cells to extreme exposures had been introduced.

The genetic diversity of the resident and migratory forms of sockeye salmon is investigated in 14 populations from various water bodies of Kamchatka and the Commander Islands by ten loci of microsatellite DNA. There are considerable differences in the frequencies of alleles among the populations of kokanee from Lake Kronotskoe, the residual form of sockeye salmon from Lake Kopylie, and other populations analyzed. Clustering of samples corresponds to their geographic position. No differences in the frequencies of alleles of the investigated loci are found between two forms of resident sockeye salmon from Kronotskoe Lake. In the sockeye salmon from the Commander Islands, a relatively low genetic diversity is found, as well as the greatest remoteness from the other Kamchatka group.

A simple and reliable method for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) in histological specimens of lung tissue of consumptives using obtained anti-MBT polyclonal antibodies and laser scanning confocal microscopy was proposed. The method detected both colonies and single MBT and localized intraand extracellularly in caseous necrosis areas and perifocal regions. It was noted that automatic image capture of a large amount of tissue (up to 2 × 2 × 0.1 mm) and subsequent combination of optical sections in a threedimensional image provided the opportunity to carry out automated search and counting of MBT in tissues. Registration of the emission spectrum was allowed separating specific signals from nonspecific fluorescence in specimens.

Involvement of apoplastic invertase in the formation of resistance of cold-tolerant plants to hypothermia was established for Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée and a transformant of the same cultivar expressing the yeast suc2 gene encoding apoplastic invertase. The dependence of the formation of increased constitutive and stress-induced cold-tolerance on the activity of apoplastic invertase and, consequently, on the level of intracellular sugars in the roots and leaves was demonstrated.

The informativity of some regions of the ribosomal cluster (rDNA) in freshwater horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) has been analyzed to trace the nucleotide differences for discrimination of species and genera of these parasites using available sequences from the NCBI GenBank and our data.

The variability of 12 allozyme and 5 microsatellite loci in narrow-headed voles captured in Chelyabinsk and Kurgan oblasts was analyzed. The low genetic differentiation of the samplings was shown. The results of comparison of the genotypes of the narrow-headed vole mothers and embryos revealed multiple paternity and polygyny. It was shown that in some cases, an analysis of microsatellite loci allows researchers to differentiate the animals that belong to different colonies.

We found that the inhibitors of the serotonin (5HT) transporter fluoxetine and clomipramine significantly inhibit 5HT-induced constriction of isolated rings of the aorta. The most prominent inhibitory effect was observed for clomipramine, which at a concentration of 2 μM, prevented aorta constriction in response to low and moderate doses of 5HT and multiply attenuated it in response to high doses (10 μM). The inhibitors of the 5HT-transporter attenuated the strength of norepinephrine-induced aorta constriction by 40–60% and eliminated long-term tonic constriction. Application of clomipramine or fluoxetine on the vessels preliminarily constricted by norepinephrine resulted in 100% relaxation, which was maintained in the presence of the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME. The inhibitors of the 5HT-transporter decreased but did not prevent 5HT-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt increase in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the aorta even at high concentrations. Clomipramine and fluoxetine did not affect the vasopressin-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt increase in SMCs and the strength of constriction of isolated aorta rings. We found that the sensitivity of the rat aorta to the vasoconstrictor effect of 5HT and the role of the 5HT-transporter in regulation of the vascular tone increased with aging.